Apparatus for pumping low temperature liquids



May 31, 1932. R. H. GODDARD APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUIDS Filed April 23. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l m m M W May 31, 1932. 'R. H. GODDARD APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUIDS 2 shets-sneet 2 Filed April 23. 1950 I Wezi 60?o a1-F Patented May 31, .19 2 v 1 1 350 391 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE ROBERT E. GODDARD, 'OF WORCESTER, IASSAGHUSETTS APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUID$ Application filed April 23, 1980. Serial No. 446,757.

This invention relates 'to an apparatus di'tions as to'develop vapor under pressure. particularly adapted for pumping liquid air This vapor under pressure is transferred to or other liquids having relatively low boilthe second part of the apparatus in which ing points. v the vapor thus generated is utilized for 5 It is desirable in handling such liquids that pumping moreof the same liquid, or of any 55 the moving parts be simplified and reduced other corresponding low temperature, liquid, in number as much as possible, as effective and for delivering the same to any desired lubrication is very difiicult in such mechanism point. on account of the extreme low temperature Vapofizing mechanism 1 of the liquid.

Referring first to the vaporizing mecha- 60 It is the object of my invention to provide 'nism shown in Fi t gs. 1 and 3 I have mdlcated Rump-mg apparatus m Much the pumpmg a combustion chamber 10 having an outlet in actlon 15 produced by vapor Pressure m, a the form of a nozzle 11 through which the closed pumpin chamber. 15 A further ob] ect is to provide an apparatus products of combustlon are discharged. Such in which the vapor is produced by evapora- 52 1 3??? g izg i z z g fi gi i ga i ggs non Rortlon of the hquid biimg handled lized to develop power or for any other deand m whlch such evaporatlon 1s preferably sired M 086 utilized for cooling the walls of a combustion p 1 fr-bl" 1' 'df 'fdto L) i fi whlch hlgh temperatures are the b dmlgi siibn chziriibei' ll th di l g h in inlet ve op 12 and the combustion is preferably con- My mventlon also relates to an-lmproved 52 Ver 1 o y 1gh temperatures are develm a evaporation of a portion of the same liqui clal provlslon 1s necessary for Goohng the 7 My invention further includes arrange- Walls thereof ments and combinations of piarts which will 1 3 g figg gg g pg igiig gfi ggi g v be hereinafter described an more particularly pointed out in the appended c1 aim chamber and enclosed by an outer wall or 3 jacket 15. Baflie plates 16 are secured to the O g gfggfg mventlon. Shown jacket and are so positioned that the g 1 is a g i side elevation of the sprays of liquid dehvered from the p1 es 14 of my improved tarsa rsfzarff a cmbert ra us;

Fi 2 is a sectional side elevation of the figfii gf and evenly distrib' 1 pumping mechanism; The liquid is delivered to the annular pipes 'gi i iig w taken along 14 from a supply pipe 17 preferably taper Fig. 4 is a plan View of certain parts, lookmg toward i so that an even Pres" ing in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 1; Sllre may be malntamed upon the several Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in seci z g F d bfg tion, looking in the direction of the arrow 5. y commie e e Supp g f in Fig. 2; and to assist 1n malntammg an even ow o Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, i showingamodified construction. f under P may be siupphed My improved pumping apparatus to the plpe 17 by any des1red mechan1sm,but prises two closely related mechanisms. In I g 1 and 5 I the first or vaporizing mechanism a liquid y Whlch the llquld may be PP under having a low boiling point, such as liquid air pressure dev l p d fr m the hlgh temperaor hydrogen, is evaporated undersuch conture in the combustion chamber 10.

The pipe 20 is preferably extended to a substantial height above the check valve 23,

so that a considerable weight of liquid may be present in the pipe 20.

The space between the chamber 10 and the jacket 15 forms an air-tight enclosure which is connected at its lower end to an outlet pipe 25. If a mixture of liquid fuels is to e burned in the combustion chamber 10, an additional fuel supply pipe 26 is provided.

As the walls of the combustion chamber 10 are subjected to substantial pressure and are commonly formed of quite thin metal, a series of braces 28 (Fig. 3) are preferably provided between the wall of the chamber 10 and the jacket 15. These braces may preferably be formed of perforated metal so as to interfere as little as possible with the free circulation and delivery of the liquid spray.

The method of operation of this part of J my apparatus isas follows Combustion being started in the chamber 10, the walls thereof are quickly heated to a high temperature. A low temperature liquid being allowed to flow through the branch pipe 20, a portion thereof enters the closed space 21 and is immediately vaporized by the high temperature of the end wall of the chamber 10. Vapor under pressure is thus generated which acts to close the check valve 23'a nd to force the surplus liquid and vapor throu h the check valve 24 into the feed pipe 17. The tangential positions of the pipes 20 and 22 introduce the liquid into the chamber 21 with a whirling action and the surplus liquid is thrown to the outer portions of the space 21 into which the pipe 22 projects.

As the remaining liqu1d in the space 21 is vaporized, the pressure falls, allowing the valve 23 to open and admit a further char e of liquid, which is again vaporized, and t e same cycle of operations takes place. A safety valve '29 prevents an excessive rise in pressure in the space 21. In this way an intermittent flow of liquid to the feed pipe 17 is produced without the employment of pumping apparatus involving the use of moving pistons or similar mechanism. The action is somewhat similar to that of a hydraulic ram, and the pressure in the pipe 17 will be higher than in the branch pipe 20, as is necessary to overcome the vapor pressure in the jacket 15. y The liquid under pressure, being thus delivered throu h the feed pipe 17, is forced out. through t e openings in the spray pipes 14, and is quickly vaporized upon contact with the outer surface of the highly heated combustion chamberlO. Vapor under pres sure is thus generated which escapes through the pipe 25 and is utilized for pumping operations in the second part of myapparatus,

as will be hereinafter described.

The outer surface of the jacket 15, the feed pipe 17, and other associated parts may preferably be covered with a suitable heat-insulating material as indicated at 30 and 31 in Figs.1and2.. v

Pumping apparatus The mechanism for utilizing the vapor pressure generated as previously described, is shown in detail in Fi 2. The liquid L to be pumped is contained in a tank or storage receptacle 35, which contains two pumping chambers 36 and 37, each of which is strong outlet 40 at its lower end connected by branch pipes 41 to an outlet pipe 42, which preferably extends upwardly inside. the tank 35, as indicated in Fig. 5, and passes through suitable stufiing boxes to the outside of the tank 35, whereit may be provided with an air chamber or pressure regulator 43, and then extends downward, as indicated at 44, to deliver liquid at any desired point.

If desired, the lower end of the pipe 44 may be connected, as indicated in Fig. 1, to deliver liquid to the fuel supply pipe 12 and the branch pipe 20 previously described. A suitable valve 45 (Fig. 1) controls the flow through the pipe 44'.

A valve 50 is provided for closing the open ing 40 in the bottom of each pumping chamber 36 or 37. This valve 50 is provided with a stem extending upward through the opening 40 and connected to .a float 51. As the valve 50 descends it engages and closes theopen upper end of a resilient collapsiblcextension of the branch pipe 41 for a purpose to be described. '3 Y Each float .51 has a lost motion connection 53 with thelower end of a wire or rod 54,

which extends upward through'a' tube 55 and stuflirig box 56, and'is connected at its upper end by a spring 57 to a rocking lever 58.

The lever 58 is mounted on a fixed" pivot 59,

and the opposite ends of the lever engage arms 60 by which valves 61 and 62 in the pipes 38 and 39 may be alternately opened and closed. Spring clips 64 engage one end or the other of the lever 58 to hold it'yieldingly in a given moved therefrom. I

Vapor under pressure is forced through one ofthe branch pipes, as 38, into the pumping chamber 36. The liquid in'the chamber is forced out through the opening 40, around the valve 50, and into the collapsible end 52 of the branch pipe 41, from which it is delivered to the pipe 42. When most of the liquid in the chamber 36 has been ejected, the float 51 falls to a point where the valve 50 closes the open end of the collapsible member 52. This prevents further flow through the pipe 41, but the continued admission of vapor under pressure through the pipe 38 exerts downward pressure on the callapsible member 52, depressing thesame along with the valve 50 and float 51. This causes downward movement of the 20 wire 54, stretching the spring 57 until the tension of the clip 64 is overcome, after which the lever 58 reverses its position with a snap position until forcibly reaction, closing the Valve 61 and opening the valve 62. A flexible but non extensible connection 65 may be made between the lever 58 and the wire 54, so that a direct pull may be exerted if the spring 57 does not overcome the clip 64. I, 1

Each pumping chamber is provided with an upper valve 7 O and a lower valve 71. The

' upper valves 70 are connected to a rocking lever 72 and the lower valves 71, are connected to a rocking lever 73. The opposite ends of the lever 72 are connected by wires 74 to the lever 58, and the opposite ends of the lever 73 are similarly connected by crossed wires 75 to the lever 58. When the lever 58 is reversed, the rocking levers 72 and 73 are also 1 reversed, and the.valves 70 and 71 in one f the pumping chambers will be openedwlyile the corresponding valves in the other-chamber will be closed.

Assuming that the chamber 36 has been emptied and the lever 58 is rocked from the position shown in Fig. 2 to its opposite position, the valves 70 and 71 in the emptied chamber 36 will be'opened, while the corresponding valves in the opposite chamber will be closed. The chamber 36, being thus opened at the lower and upper ends, the liquid L in the tank 35 will flow into the chamber through the lower valves 71 and the vapor in the chamber-willescapethrough the upper valve 70. As this vapor is commonly at high terns 55 perature andpressure and as it is desirable to evaporate as little as possible of the liquid L, I provide a pipe 77 above each upper valve 70, so that the vapor may pass upward to the space above the liquid L with little or no fl'mingling with the liquid, thus reducing the evaporating effect. The lever 72 extends into each pipe 77 through a'slo't suitably covered and protected to prevent leakage into the p1pe.

The connection from the lever 73 to each ber has been materially reduced'by the escape I ofgas or vapor through the valve. 70.

As'soon as the emptied pumping chamber 36 or 37 begins to fill with liquid, the float 51 therein will rise and close the opening 46, thus preventing reverse flow through the corresponding branch pipe ,41. The gas or vapor escaping through the pipe 77 leaves the tank 35 through an upper opening 80.

The tank 35 is preferably surrounded by a covering 82 and is preferably enclosed within an inner casing 83 and an outer casing or jacket84, the parts 83 and 84 being su ported in spaced relation to the tank 35 an covering 82 by spacing members 85, preferably of heat-insulating material.

Instead of discharging the vapor direct to the atmosphere, it is preferable to dischar e the va-por'through the opening into t e jacket space 86 between the covering 82 and the casing member 83. The vapor flows downward in the space 86 to an outlet 87 .where it escapes into the space 88 between the casing 83 and the outer covering or jacket 84. The vapor then flows upward through this outer space to an opening 89 where it escapes to the atmosphere. The low temperature liquid L in the tank 35 is thus effectively protected from radiation to the atmosphere.

A manually operated vent valve 90 is provided for venting the pipe 25 when starting the apparatus, and a connection 91 having a valve 92 is, provided through which gas or liquid under pressure may be admitted for starting the apparatus. A safety valve 93 may be added.

In Fig. 6, I have indicated the use of a simple manually operated pump 100 for placing the liquid under pressure in the feed p1pe '17, this apparatus taking the place'of the pulsating feeding mechanism previously described. By using this pump 100, a suitable pressure may be maintained in the pressure 13311131! 18. d t

1m rove umpmg appara us 15 particul rly adapted for feeding liquid fuel to a continuous combustion chamber, such as may be used in rocket mechanism, and for similar purposes. The liquid contained in the feed pipe 17 cools the wall of the combustion chamber 10 when sprayed thereon, and prevents destruction thereof, while at the same time the heat of the chamber generates vapor pressure effective for operating the pumping apparatus. This vapor, being delivcred alternately to the pumping chambers 36 and 37, produces a continuous flow of fuel from the tank 35 through the pipe 12 to the combustion chamber 10, and a portion of this fuelis diverted through the branch pipe 20 Having described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus fdr pumpin low temperature liquids comprising a tan to contain the liquid, a pair of pumping chambers each having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, means to provide a continuous supply of vapor'under pressure for said chambers, and means to render said vapor efl'ective to force liquid from one of said chambers while the other chamber is being filled with liquid from said tank, said vapor supply means being connected to said liquid outlets.

2. Apparatus for pumping a lowtemperature liquid comprising a tank to contain the liquid, a pair of pumping chambers each having a liquid outlet, means to supply vapor under pressure, means to conduct said vapor to said pumping chambers, admission valves for; said conducting means, upper and lower filling valve for sald pum ing chambers, an outlet valve for each chamber, and automatic valve controlling mechanism effective to actuate all of said admission, filling and outlet valves as said chambers are emptied and filled, whereby alternative and successive filling and emptyin' of said pumping chambers is affected, sai vapor supply means being connected to said liquid outlets. k

3. In an apparatus for pumping low temperature li uids, mechanism including a combustion c amber for producing vapor under pressure, (pumping apparatus, and means to render sai vapor efiective in said pumping apparatus to pump a portion of said low temperature liquid, and to feed another por-' tion of said liquid to said vaporizing mechanism.

. 4. In a pumping apparatus, a vaporizing mechanism. comprlslng a heated combustion pressure to sai chamber, a closed casing surrounding said chamber but spaced therefrom, pumping means to pump-,a low temperature liquid, and to feed a (portion of said. liquid under closed casing and to spray said liquid on the exterior surface of said combustion chamber within said closed casing, and means to conduct the vaporized liquid from said casing to. said pumping means to provide an actuating force therefor) 5. In a pumping apparatus, a tank to contain the liquid to be pumped, apumping chamber having an outlet port, an outlet connection from said port, an open collapsible member'extending within said connection toward said port, and a float-controlled valve effective to close the port when the valve is raised and to close the open end of the colldapsible member when the valve is lowere 5. The combination in a pumping apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the -movement of said valve.

vapor supply, valve means permitting escape of said vapor from said chamber as said chamber is filling, and means to conduct said vapor through the liquid of said tank to a vented portion of said tank above said liquid.

8. The'com'bination in a pumping apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the conducting means comprises a tube rising above the surface of the liquid and connected at its lower end to the vapor outlet of said chamber.

. 9. The combination in a pumping apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which alower valve for inlet of liquid is provided. in said chamber and actuating means to open said valve after the pressure in said chamber drops to a predetermined point.

10. In a pumping apparatus for low temperature liquids, a pair of pumping chambers each having an inlet and outlet for liquid, means connected'to said liquid outlets, to admit vapor under pressure to said chambers alternately to eject liquid therefrom, valves controlling said admission means, and float-controlled means in said pumping chambers connected to simultaneously close one of said valves and open the other valve.

11. In a pumpingapparatus for low temperature liquids, a pair of pumping chambers each having an inlet and outlet for liquid, means connected to said liquid outlets, to admit vapor under pressure to said cham- .bers alternately to eject liquid therefrom, valves controlling said admission means,

float-controlled means in said pumping sure over a portion of said chamber,'a casing forming a closed jacket space about another portion of said chamber, said casin having an inlet and an outlet, means to fee liquid to said jacket space, and means to conduct vapor and excess liquid from said s ace to said sprayin means, thereby provi gv an actuating orce therefor, a pumping chamber connected to said casing outlet, whereby said vapor will be efi'ective as a pumping medium.

13. The combination in a vaporizingapparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which check valves are provided to prevent reverse 15 flow of liquid or vapor with respect to the inlet or outlet of said closed jacket space.

14. The combination in a vaporizing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which check valves are provided to prevent reverse 2 flow of liquid or vapor with respect to the inlet or outlet of said closed jacket space, and in which the liquid is introduced and the vapor and excess liquid is removed in substantially tangential directions with respect to said combustion chamber. 15. Apparatus for pumping low temperature liquids comprising a tank to contain the liquid, a pair of pumping chambers, means to provide a continuous supply of vaso por under pressure for said cham rs, means to render said va or effective to force liquid from one of sai chambers while the other chamber is being filled with liquid from said tank, and a surrounding casing for said tank 85 enclosing a jacket space through which the 4o liquid, a pair .0

vapor released from said pump ng chambers passes before esca e to the atmosphere. 16. Apparatus or pumping low tempera ture liquids comfprising a tank to contain the pumping chambers, means to provide a continuous supply of'vapor under pressure for said chambers, means to render said vapor effective toforce liquid from one of said chambers while the other chamber is being filled with liquid. from said tank,

and a plurality of casings for said tank enclosing superposed jacket spaces through which the vapor released from said pumping chambers passes successively before cscape to the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

' ROBERT H. GODDARD. 

